Kaysville – Page 2

Sledding Near Miss

February 26, 2011 by rickety 2 Comments

Sarah, Bryson, and Aurora ready to sled

There was snow on the ground so Adelaide, Sarah, the grandchildren, Jill, and I went sledding. We picked a very small hill for the grandchildren and took our cameras. Click on the images to enlarge. The videos are usually not visible in a feed reader. In the screencap below I have circled a girl in pink at the bottom of the hill. Keep your eye on her when you play the accompanying video of Bryson and I sledding.

Sledding near miss

Adelaide took the photograph below as we narrowly missed the little girl in pink. You can see how close we came. I still had the camera rolling.

The near miss, taken from a different angle

Aurora in the snow

Bryson with a snowball

Cassandra

Adelaide, Aurora, and Cassandra sledding

Sarah and Bryson sledding

There is Plenty of Sound in an Empty Barrel: Part 4

September 4, 2010 by rickety 1 Comment

The raft was completed yesterday evening. The second story was braced and disassembled for transportation. Some of the barrels around the wheel well of the trailer had to be loosened so that the raft could be stowed level. A truck was needed for towing which was provided by Matt of Fence4U. In Part 5 I will have photographs of the launch at Causey Reservoir. Click on the images to enlarge.

Go to Part 5

More Hot Air Balloons Over Ponds Park

September 3, 2010 by rickety 1 Comment

Ponds Park was alive this morning with a number of hot air balloon launches. I enjoyed taking photographs of all the activity. It wasn’t hard to get some good pictures with the subjects right over my nose. Here are several more snapshots in addition to those already posted. Click on the images to enlarge.

Hot Air Balloons Over Ponds Park

September 3, 2010 by rickety 1 Comment

5 minutes walk from my house is Ponds Park in Kaysville. This Friday morning the park was full of hot air balloons preparing to launch. It was an excellent opportunity to dust off my camera and take a few photographs. Click on the photographs to enlarge. The originals are 4000 x 3000 pixels but have been reduced for the web.

Kaysville City — Utah’s Hometown

July 11, 2010 by rickety Leave a Comment

The next time you are in downtown Kaysville take a look at the street banners. They read “Kaysville City,” “Utah’s Hometown.” Sandwiched here between the two banner photographs are the two originals (click to enlarge). Mayor Steve Hiatt saw the photographs in my 2008 Kaysville 4th July Parade blog post and asked if he could use them. I was happy to oblige.

So what are these banners for? I will explain in the following paragraphs spaced among the photographs.

Brett Gee of Forthgear has been hired by Kaysville City to help the City develop a brand, particularly as it relates to marketing potential commercial enterprises. Gee explained that the City should set a strategy and marketing efforts to enhance the tax base. Forthgear looks at what makes each entity unique. He stated that Kaysville needs to decide what they want to do to remain viable in the expansion of its commercial base.

Gee says that if the City does not brand itself, it will happen on its own. He believes that affordable housing is critically important to the City which is predominantly white and LDS. The City has a higher household income than the rest of the state, the City is almost 50/50 male/female, and that the median age in the City is 24. The City needs to decide what story they want to tell. He stated that taxes will need to be increased to accomplish this goal.

Forthgear has gathered and analyzed data for Kaysville City. A good brand understands the City’s strengths and weaknesses. Gee believes that there are things that make Kaysville unique. Forthgear isolated some of those variables that make the City stand alone.

The brand positioning for Kaysville states that Kaysville City serves their citizens, both residents and businesses, and that Kaysville provides the opportunity for a lifestyle steeped in the traditional American spirit. He explained that Kaysville City is centralized in the county and northern Utah and is uniquely situated in the middle of everything. It is accessible to Ogden and Salt Lake City, is located between the Wasatch mountains and the Great Salt Lake, two important recreational areas in the state, and is bordered by two major traffic arteries, I-15 and Highway 89, both connected by one large, easily traveled east/west street, 200 North. Accessibility into the city is a significant benefit to Kaysville businesses and commercial enterprises. He believes that this is a marketable trait.

The theme for Kaysville that is being recommended is “Utah’s Hometown.” Gee stated that a good brand creates emotion. At the June 1, 2010 Kaysville City Council Meeting he presented a copy of the new City logo, theme, letterhead, banners, website, business cards, etc. which showcased the new brand image.

Sources

Kaysville City Council Meeting minutes
19 January 2010 — Regular meeting
2 March 2010 — 5pm Special meeting
1 June 2010 — Regular meeting
Forthgear website
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Kaysville and Fruit Heights Independence Day Parade

July 3, 2010 by rickety Leave a Comment

A few photographs from the Kaysville and Fruit Heights Independence Day Parade. Click on the images to enlarge.

Command Chief Ogden Air Logistic Center Chief Master Sgt. David Nordel

Bryson and Sarah watch the parade

Rachel and Jake

Steve Hiatt, Kaysville City Mayor, throws candy

Fruit Heights City Mayor, Todd Stevenson

Bryson watches the parade

There was a helicopter candy drop immediately following the parade

Near the end of the parade the water fight began

Independence Day Kaysville Rotary Run For Reading 5K

July 3, 2010 by rickety 1 Comment

Davis High School Flag

This morning was the Independence Day Kaysville Rotary 12th Annual 10K and 5K Run / 5K Walk “Run for Reading” at the Davis High School Stadium. In 2009 there were 873 participants who entered, beating the previous year by over 200 runners. The proceeds of the $15 race registration will go towards the purchase of “I Like Me” reading books for Kaysville area elementary school children.

I was there to take a few photographs. Click on the images to enlarge.

Before the race

Sarah's with her friend Jennifer and her husband

Sarah, Derek, Jill, and Bryson

Bryson was not too thrilled at the early morning start to the race

Start of the 5K segment

Jill at the finish (39:25:00)

Derek, Sarah, and Bryson at the finish

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Davis County Early Voting

October 30, 2009 by rickety 2 Comments

Jill early voting in the Kaysville City elections

This information is for 2009. Do not rely on the information here but use Vote Utah.

I am accustomed to voting early. I don’t feel as rushed because I can pick a day and time that better suits my schedule. Today my wife and I went to Kaysville City town hall to early vote at 2:30 pm. and found there was no waiting. If you wish to early vote then you are too late — today was the last day.

However, there is still the election on Tuesday and I can direct you to information that may be helpful.

Where To Vote

Find election dates, your candiates, registration and voting information

A lot of voting information is located at Leave Your Print. If all you need is to know where to go to vote, wander on over to the Voter Information Website. Enter you name, birth date, county, and house number and your polling place will be shown. The site will also tell you with which party (if any) you are affiliated. A sample ballot is available tailored to your city. Here is where I would go to vote on Tuesday if I hadn’t voted already:

A quick way to find your party affiliation, voting location, and sample ballot.

A quick way to find your party affiliation, voting location, and personalized ballot.

Who To Vote For

The personalized sample ballot is a great help in knowing who is on the ballot. I don’t like to be surprised when I get to the polling booth. My Kaysville City ballot looks like this.

Cities in Davis County will cast votes for mayors and city council members Tuesday 3rd November. Generally one mayor and two council members will be elected. Candidates currently on the ballots include:

Bountiful

Mayor

Joe L. Johnson (Incumbent)
Jeffrey L. Novak

City Council

Ernie Cox
Fred Moss (Incumbent)
Thomas B. Tolman (Incumbent)
Phill Wright

Centerville

Mayor

Ron Russell (Incumbent)

City Council

Justin Y. Allen (Incumbent)
Melissa Hogan
Sherri Lyn Lindstrom (Incumbent)
Brian M. Plummer

Clearfield

Mayor

Don Wood (Incumbent)

City Council

Glen Mills
Kathryn Murray (Incumbent)
Vern R. Phipps (Incumbent)
Bruce L. Young

Clinton

Mayor

L. Mitch Adams (Incumbent)
Carl Rumsey

City Council

Blair A. Bateman
Joanne Hansen
Barbara J. Patterson (Incumbent)
Michael Petersen

Farmington

Mayor

Scott C. Harbertson (Incumbent)

City Council

John S. Bilton
D. Kevin Poff
Jim Talbot
Anita Todd

Fruit Heights

Mayor

Todd Stevenson (Incumbent)

City Council

Don Caroll (Sagebrush)
Bette Hubrich (Sagebrush)
Nicole Miller (Pinecone)
Eileen Moss (Pinecone, Incumbent)

Kaysville

Mayor

Steve Hiatt
Neka F. Roundy (Incumbent)

City Council

Brian D. Cook
Richard Lenz
Gil A. Miller (Incumbent)
Jared R. Taylor

Layton

Mayor

Steve Curtis (Incumbent)
Bob J. Stevenson

Council

Mike Bouwhuis (Incumbent)
Barry T. Flitton
Adam S Gardiner
Sherri Lee Tatton

North Salt Lake

Mayor

Leonard K. Arave
Lisa Watts Baskin

City Council

Matt Hardy (Incumbent)
Stewart B. Harman
Matt Jensen
Hayward B. Oblad

South Weber

Mayor

Jeffery G. Monroe

City Council

Sara Lusk
Farrell Poll (Incumbent)

Sunset

Mayor

Chad W. Bangerter
Ryan Furniss

City Council

Brent L. Andrews
Ricky Carlson (Incumbent)
Bradford S. Weller

Syracuse

Mayor

Craig Jenkins
Jamie Nagle

City Council

Matt Kimmel
Theresa A. Sheffield
Larry D. Shingleton (Incumbent)
Robert Whiteley

West Bountiful

Mayor

James Behunin (Incumbent)
Ken Romney

City Council

George Biada
Kent Bond
Mark Preece
Teresa Thomas

West Point

Mayor

Erik R. Craythorne (Incumbent)
Terry Matthews

City Council

Andy Dawson (Incumbent)
R.Kent Henderson (Incumbent)
Shawn Watkins
Brogan L. Fullmer

Woods Cross

Mayor

Kent Parry (Incumbent)

City Council

Leo Beecher
Tamy Dayley (Incumbent)
Jon Hadlow (Incumbent)
Ryan Westergard

What Bond To Vote For

There is only one bond and if you guessed it was for education you would be right. Seems like there is always a bond for education. The controversy this time around is about whether your taxes will increase or not. The school district claims it is not a true tax increase because an equivalent amount of debt is being paid off. So let’s put it another way: your taxes will decrease if the bond is rejected.

This is the text of the Ballot Proposition:

Official Ballot Proposition for Davis School District, Utah
Special Bond Election
November 3, 2009
Bruce D. Williams
Business Administrator

PROPOSITION
Shall the Board of Eduction (the “Board”) of Davis School District, Utah (the “District”), be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000) (the “Bonds”) for the purpose of defraying all or a portion of the costs of new school construction, land acquisition, equipment acquisition, and renovation and improvement of existing school facilities, and for payment of expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the acquisition and construction of said improvements and the authorization and issuance of the Bonds; said Bonds to be due and payable in not to exceed twenty-one (21) years from the date of the Bonds?

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE DUE TO BOND ISSUANCE

Passage of this Proposition means that the tax on a $252,000 residence within the District would increase by $156.93 per year.

The tax on a $252,000 business within the District would increase by $285.33 per year.

However, the Board expects to issue the bonds in such a manner that no increase in the current tax rate for debt service will occur. If the bonds are approved and sold, the current tax rate will continue for more years than if the bonds are not approved.

The foregoing information is only an estimate of tax increases and is not a limit on the amount of taxes that the Board may be required to levy in order to pay debt service on the Bonds. The Board will be obligated to levy taxes without limitation as to rate or amount in order to pay the Bonds, as provided by law. The amounts are based on various assumptions and estimates, including estimated debt service on the Bonds and taxable values of property in the District.

FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS

AGAINST THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS

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The Day I Met Steve Hiatt

October 24, 2009 by rickety Leave a Comment

Steve Hiatt For Mayor

Steve Hiatt (left) and Myself

The Day I Met Steve Hiatt sounds a little dramatic but it really isn’t. I was rototilling a couple of pickup loads of compost from the sewer plant when Steve Hiatt showed up like a breath of fresh air. He was out campaigning for Mayor having won the Kaysville City primary.

He had to introduce himself because I didn’t recognize him, even though I voted for him in the primary. After we conversed for awhile I asked Steve if he had anything to say for my blog. He was a good sport and allowed his photograph to be taken and said a few words. I will see if I can remember correctly what he said. Steve, if you read this, correct in the comments what I get wrong. Although the paragraph below is in quotes it is really me paraphrasing:

We need leaders who value trust. We don’t have to agree with each other but we should keep communicating. Residents must be able to be heard even if some things cannot be acted upon.

An Impressive Candidate

I was impressed when my wife asked about other candidates and Steve spoke well of them. He mentioned by name those running for office and specific positive traits they possessed that would be useful in serving the city. I asked Steve that in the future as solar power becomes more affordable would the residents be able to connect to the grid to sell unused power back to the city. Steve said that the city’s situation is a little different as a member of UAMPS and that the city works with the association. To give you a little more of a feel for Steve’s platform, below is a quote taken from Steve’s website:

For the most part, I believe our citizens and elected officials share the same values, beliefs, and desires for this great town. When opinions differ, our citizens deserve a voice and the right to have their voice heard. We deserve leaders who ensure fiscal responsibility while providing the services we need and expect. We deserve leaders who will protect our heritage, ensuring our parks and open spaces are not for sale. We deserve leaders who keep an open mind, who encourage resident participation, who exercise “full-disclosure,” and who engender trust. Not only must Leaders be trustworthy, we must be trusting of others. (Steve Hiatt. Open * Fair * Ready)

After visiting with Steve Hiatt I see no reason to change my vote for him.
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